Machine for winding wire or the like



Allg- 1962 H. A. FREYHOLDT 3,048,341

MACHINE FOR WINDING WIRE OR THE LIKE Filed Oct. 13, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. HELMLJT A. FIZEYHQLDT BY a? ,4 rrazusxs Aug. 7, 1962 H. A. FREYHOLDT 3,048,341

MACHINE FOR WINDING WIRE OR THE LIKE- Filed Oct. 15, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. HELMUT A. FREYHOLDT BY W ad Arroz/vsys United States Patent 3 048 341 MACHINE FUR WINEINZ WIRE 0R TIE LIKE Helmut A. Freylroldt, 2385 Roscomare Road, Los Angeles 24, Calif. Filed Oct. 13, 1958, Ser. No. 766,804 9 Claims. (Cl. 2421) This invention generally relates to a machine for winding wire or similar flexible members and more particularly relates to a machine for winding wire in two different directions about a frame member.

Although the machine has many diverse applications, it will be illustratively described in conjunction with the manufacture of heat exchanger core structures in which lengths of wire or similar flexible members must be wound in two directions at intersecting angles to each other about a frame member. Such heat exchanger core structures are shown and described in applicants co-pending application entitled Method of Making Heat Exchanger, filed May 15, 1958, and assigned Serial No. 735,528, applicants co-pending application entitled, Heat Exchange Core Structure, filed August 8, 1958, and assigned Serial No. 754,106, and applicants co-pending application entitled, Heat Exchanger and Method of Making Same, filed May 10, 1954, and assigned Serial No. 428,516, now abandoned.

In accordance with the above identified applications, the manufacture of such heat exchanger core structures requires that spaced separation walls be built up to define fluid passages. In cooperation with the walls, heat conductive wires or fins are positioned so as to extend laterally in spaced relationship across the separation Walls and elfect a heat exchange relationship between the fluids flowing in adjacent passages. For reasons described in the co-pending applications, it is essential that each laterally extending heat conductive member or wire be interposed between adjacent carrier members or imbedded wires extending lengthwise in the separation walls.

Such heat exchanger core structures require coils of Wire to be wound in side-.by-side spaced windings onto a frame. In this regard, a first coil must be wound in one direction around one axis of the frame; thereafter, a second coil must be wound over and across the first windings of the first coil in a direction about a second axis of the frame. These two steps must be continued in alternation to build up the spaced separation walls and transverse heat conductive wires heretofore mentioned.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a machine for winding wire in two alternating different intersecting directions about a frame structure, the machine being particularly adaptable to the winding operation where the two directions are required to be at right angles to each other.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine for winding wire or other flexible members in two intersecting directions about a frame structure in which continuous lengths of wire may be used without severing or cutting the wire until the core structure is completed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine for winding wire or other flexible members onto a frame, in which the machine embodies a construction such that the frame need not be shifted or moved during changes in winding directions.

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Still another object of the present invention is to provide a machine for winding wire or other flexible members onto a frame, in which the machine is effective to quickly and efficiently transfer winding directions about the frame. I

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a machine for winding wire or similar flexible members, which is simple and rugged in its construction and design, and yet which economically achieves the foregoing objects.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are generally achieved in a machine according to the present invention, which includes first driven means mounted for rotation in axial alignment with one center line of the frame together with first coupling means adapted for co-opeartive connection of the frame to the first driven means. Similarly, second driven means are mounted for rotation in axial alignment with another center line of the frame, and second coupling means are adapted for cooperative connection of the frame to the second driven means. Driving means for effecting separate rotation of the first driven means and second driven means are provided, for example, in the form of an electric motor and suitable gear transmission.

First dispensing means are mounted on the first driven means and retain the first flexible member or length of wire. Similarly, second dispensing means are mounted on the second driven means and retain the second flexible member or length of wire.

With this type of combination, the frame may be drivingly coupled to the first driven means and the sec ond flexible member may be wound in one direction on the frame while the first dispensing means rotates with the first driven means and the second driven means remains stationary. Thereafter, the frame may be drivingly coupled to the second driven means and the first flexible member wound on the frame in a crosswise direction, while the second dispensing means rotates with the second driven means and the first driven means is retained stationary. As a consequence, neither of the wire lengths need be severed or reconnected and neither of the driven means need be moved in their spatial relationship to each other except for rotation. Also, the frame need not be moved during changeover in driving means.

A better understanding of the present invention will be had by reference to the drawings showing merely an illustrative schematic embodiment, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic representation of a machine for winding wire according to the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a modification to the machine of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a modification designed to 'be incorporated within the machine shown in FIGURE 1; and,

FIGURE 4 is a schematic representation of the frame movement during winding of the wire.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG- URE 1 a shaft 10, which is journaled in bearing means 11. The shaft 10 has mounted at one end a supporting structure or yoke means 12 including a leg member 13 and a leg member 14.

In the right hand side of the view of FIGURE 1, there is shown another shaft 15, similarly journaled in bearing means 16. The shaft 15 similarly includes a 3 supporting or yoke structure 17 embodying a leg mem er 18 and a leg member 19. The shafts and are coaxial on an axis designated by the letters XX.

A frame structure is interposed between the yoke means 12 and the yoke means 17 and is adapted to be coupled to and supported by the respective yoke means for rotation with the shafts 10 and 15. Towards this end, the frame 20 includes projecting arms 21, 22, 23, and 24. Various devices including automatic means may be employed for coupling the frame 20 to the opposing yokes, however, for illustrative purposes, bolts 25, 26, 27, and 28 have been shown. Bolt connects arm 21 to the leg member 13; bolt 26 connects arm 22 to the leg member 14; bolt 27 connects leg member 18 to the arm 23; and, bolt 28 connects the leg member 19 to the arm 24. Thus, with the bolts connected as in FIGURE 1, the yoke means 12, the frame 20, and the yoke means 17 will rotate as one unit. For illustrative purposes, an electric motor 29 has been shown by dotted line connection as one means of driving the overall structure by coupling to the shaft 10, for example.

A similar structural combination exists along an axis YY of FIGURE 1. Thus, in the upper hand portion of FIGURE 1, there is shown a shaft 30 suitably mounted in bearing means 31 and incorporating a yoke structure 32 having legs 33 and 34. The free ends of the legs 33 and 34 are suitably apertured to receive bolt members. correspondingly, in the lower hand portion of FIGURE 1, a shaft 35 is journaled in bearing means 36 and includes integrally formed therewith a yoke structure 37 having legs 38 and 39. The legs 38 and 39 also include bolt receiving apertures at their free ends.

In order to couple the frame 20 to the opposing yoke structures 32 and 37, the frame is provided with arms 40, 41, 42, and 43, each of these arms being provided with a suitable aperture designed to be aligned with a corresponding aperture in the respective yoke legs.

With this type of structural relationship, bolts may be positioned in the yoke structures 32 and 37 so as to couple legs 33, 34, 38, and 39 to frame arms 40 through 43, respectively. Thereafter, the bolts 25 through 28 may be removed to uncouple the yokes 12 and 17 from the frame 20. With the frame 20 thus coupled to the yoke means 32 and 37, the motor 29 may be connected to rotate the shaft 35 and thus drive the yoke means 37, frame 20, and yoke means 32 rotatively about the axis Y-Y, while the yoke structures 12 and 17 remain stationary.

In the right hand portion of FIGURE 1, a cross member 44 is shown extending between the legs 18 and 19 upon which is rotatively joumaled a wire dispensing means in the form of drum 45 retaining a reel of Wire 46. A length of the wire 46 is shown as extending lengthwise across the frame 20 in a horizontal direction. Similarly, in the lower portion of FIGURE 1, there is shown a cross member 47 extending between the legs 38 and 39 and having mounted thereon a dispensing means in the form of a drum 48. The drum 48 retains a reel of Wire 49 which extends crosswise on the frame 20 in a vertical direction.

With this type of arrangement, the wire 46 may be first wound about the frame 20 with the yoke structures 32 and 37 rotated about the Y axis. During this rotation about the Y axis, the yoke structures 12 and 17 remain stationary. Thereafter, the wire 49 may be wound around the frame 20 upon rotation of the yoke structures 12 and 17 about the X axis, while the yoke structures on the Y axis remain stationary. Thus, the yoke or supporting structures 32 and 37 are first drivingly coupled to the frame 20; then the yoke structures 12 and 17 are drivingly coupled to the frame. This procedure is repeated according to the height or thickness of the core of alternately crossing spaced windings as required. It will be appreciated that the frame which may be heavy and/ or delicate need not be moved or shifted during these operations.

In instances in which the frame 20 is of relatively light weight, it will be apparent that only two yoke structuresfor example, yoke means 17 and 37-need be employed.

Thus, it will be apparent that a unique structural combination exists such that neither the wire 46 nor the wire 49 need ever be severed as the various separation walls and crossing fin members are built up. The importance of this feature of the present invention is further apparent when it is realized that the dispensing means 45 and 48 may actually be in the form of several drums or reels of wire spaced to effect a plurality of windings across the area of the frame.

As discussed heretofore in the description, it is feasible to employ various types of supporting structures or yoke means for co-operative coupling to the particular frame member upon which the wire members are to be wound. In FIGURE 2, an alternative structure is shown in which a shaft or driving means is joumaled in bearing 51. The shaft 50 terminates in a cross member or yoke means 52. The yoke means 52 embodies therein trunnions 53 and 54 adapted to be received in apertures 55 and 56 of the arms 21 and 22 in order to effect coupling of the frame 20 to the driving means 50. It is thus apparent that various types of coupling arrangements may be employed. Of course, if this particular type of structure is used, a somewhat different means for mounting the dispensing means or wire drums must be used.

A problem inherent in the operation of the winding machine as schematically shown in FIGURE 1 relates to the speed of travel and tension characterizing wire 46 in relationship to the release of the Wire from the dispensing means and the wire demand brought about by the rotating frame 20. Thus, as the frame 20 rotates about the X axis, for example, wire will be required at a greater rate as it is wound around certain portions of the frame structure 20, than it will be as it is wound around other portions thereof. As a consequence of this oscillatory or paddle motion, and the resulting variable tension on the reel or drum 48, it is necessary to provide a compensating mechanism to control release of the wire 49 from the drum 48. Furthermore, in the event only one drum is employed, it is, of course, necessary to provide some means of conveying the wire in a co-planar relationship across the entire face of the frame :20. In alternate constructions, instead of moving the wire across the entire face of the frame 20, a plurality of reels or drums may be employed for co-functioning with respective portions of the frame.

With respect to the above problems, reference is made to FIGURE 3 which for purposes of discussion will be deemed a modification of the yoke means 37 of FIGURE 1 although a similar and equivalent modification is, of course, desirable to the yoke means 17 in which the drum 45 is journaled.

Thus, in FIGURE 3, there is shown a yoke means 57 designed for rotation about a Y--Y axis of FIGURE 1. A drum or reel 58 is suitably mounted on a supporting member 59 rigidly connected to the yoke means 57. The drum 58 retains a reel of wire 60 adapted to be received about the frame 20 (see FIGURE 1) in the same manner as wire 49.

For braking the reel of wire, a member 61 is pivotably coupled to the yoke means 57 as at 62, and includes a braking member 63 at one end. The member 61 has a downwardly extending lever arm 64 on one side of the pivot 62.

Another pivotable member 65 is coupled at 66 to the yoke frame 57 and includes a lower lever arm 67. The member 65, near its upper end, has secured thereto a pulley 69 for guiding wire 60.

Yoke means 57 further embodies a threaded shaft 70, adapted to be driven in rotary motion by any suitable means forming no part of the present invention, and upon which is mounted a movable fitting 71, the fitting having coupled thereto a pulley 72 for guiding the wire from the pulley 69 to the frame 20, for example, of FIG- URE 1. When the threaded shaft 70 is turned, the movable fitting 71 is driven in one direction or the other in the manner of a conventional lead screw. It will be understood that the movable member or threaded nut of a lead screw is conventionally restrained against rotation with the lead screw, this being accomplished in the illustrated case by the seating of the wire in the conventional pulley 72.

The operation of the compensating device may now be explained. As the frame begins to rotate (assuming wire 60 has been coupled thereto), a tension will be created in the wire 60 which will tend to draw the tensioning arm or member 65 to the dotted line position of 65'. As the member 65 moves towards the position 65, the spring 63 will gradually be elongated to create a biasing force against the member 61 acting on the lever arm 64 thereof. This biasing force will overcome the force of the brake spring 73 tending to holding the brake 63 against the reel of wire 60. In consequence, the brake 63 will be gradually forced away from the reel of wire 60 allowing the spool or drum 58 to freely pay off the wire 60.

As the frame 20 comes to rest, momentum of the drum 58 will tend to pay off more wire. However, since the wire tension will be substantially zero, the spring 68 will tend to contract and move the tension arm 65 to the dotted line position of 65 in which position the tension arm pulley 69 will absorb excess wire paid out.

It will further be appreciated that with this type of compensating device that provision is made for the paddle type motion of the frame 20. Thus, referring to FIG- URE 4, as the frame moves from the position of point A to point B, the wire demand will be the greatest; on on the other hand, when the frame moves from point C to point D, the demand for wire will be relatively small. In consequence, the rotation of the drum 58, for example, will be relatively too slow for maximum wire demand as the frame moves from points A to B. Therefore, the tensioning arm 65 will tend to swing into the dotted line position of 65 thereby releasing an additional amount of wire 60 that the spool 58 would not normally supply. correspondingly, When the frame moves from point C to point D with relatively zero wire demand, the spool will normally be releasing too much wire and the arm 65 will move to the dotted line position of 65" to absorb excess wire being paid out.

It is thus apparent that such compensating apparatus will not only effectively balance wire demand during starting and stopping positions of the frame, but also balance wire demand created by the paddle structure of the frame itself.

As is apparent from the view of FIGURE 3, the particular manner in which the dispensing means or drum or spools of wire are mounted on the yoke means may be varied although it is essential that the particular dispensing means employed be coupled for rotation with its respective yoke means.

It will further be evident that many mechanical details which are well known to those skilled in the art have not been described or shown in connection with the schematic configurations for the winding machine of the present invention. Furthermore, many modifications and changes may be made in the overall configuration without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A machine for winding a first flexible member and a second flexible member onto a frame in a generally rectangular configuration, said machine comprising: first driven means mounted for rotation in axial alignment with one center line of said frame; second driven means mounted for rotation in axial alignment with the other co-planar center line of said frame; coupling means for effecting separate connection of said frame to said first and second driven means, respectively; driving means for effecting separate rotation of said first driven means and said seconddriven means; first dispensing means journaled in said first driven means and retaining said first flexible member; second dispensing means journaled on said sec ond driven means and retaining said second flexible member, whereby said frame may be drivingly coupled to said first driven means and said second flexible member may be wound on said frame perpendicular to said one center line while maintaining said second driven means stationary, and whereby said frame may be drivingly coupled to said second driven means and said first flexible member wound on said frame perpendicular to said other center line while maintaining said first driven means stationary.

2. A machine for winding a first flexible member and a second flexible member onto a frame in a generally rectangular configuration, according to claim 1; first pulley means coupled to said first driven means adapted to guide said first flexible member from said first dispensing means onto said frame; and first spring means coupled between said first driven means and said first pulley means and exerting a biasing force on said first pulley means in a direction adapted to impose a tension on said first flexible member upon winding of said first flexible member onto said frame.

3. A machine for winding a first flexible member and a second flexible member onto a frame in a generally rectangular configuration, according to claim 2; second pulley means coupled to said second driven means and adapted to guide said second flexible member from said second dispensing means onto said frame; and, second spring means coupled between said second driven means and said second pulley means and exerting a biasing force on said second pulley means in a direction adapted to impose a tension on said second flexible member upon winding of said second flexible member onto said frame.

4. A machine for winding a first flexible member and a second flexible member onto a frame in a generally rectangular configuration, according to claim 1, and first braking means coupled to said first driven means and acting to oppose rotation of said first dispensing means.

5. A machine for winding a first flexible member and a second flexible member onto a frame in a generally rectangular configuration, according to claim 4, and second braking means coupled to said second driven means and acting to oppose rotation of said second dispensing means.

6. A machine for winding a first flexible member and a second flexible member onto a frame in a generally rectangular configuration according to claim 1, and movable means associated with each of said first driven means and said second driven means adapted to guide said respective, first and second flexible members onto said frame to establish said rectangular configuration.

7. A machine for winding a first flexible member and a second flexible member into a rectangular configuration, said machine comprising: a first rotatable member; a second rotatable member; a rectangular frame; first connection means projecting from one side of said rectangular frame for coupling to said first rotatable memher; second connection means projecting from another adjacent side of said rectangular frame for coupling to said second rotatable member; coupling means for effecting separate coupling of said first connection means to said first rotatable member and said second connection means to said second rotatable member, respectively; first dispensing means journaled on said finst rotatable member; second dispensing drum means journaled on said second rotatable member; and, driving means for effecting separate rotation of said first rotatable member and said second rotatable member, whereby said first rotatable member may be drivingly coupled to said first connection means and said second flexible member wound on said frame while maintaining said second rotatable member stationary, and whereby said second rotatable member may be drivingly coupled to said second connection means and said first flexible member wound on said frame while maintaining said first rotatable member stationary.

8. A machine for winding 8. first flexible member and a second flexible member into a rectangular configuration, according to claim 7, and means coupled, respectively, to said first rotatable member and said second rotatable member for creating variable tension in said flexible members, respectively.

9. A machine for winding 3. first flexible member and a second flexible member into a rectangular configuration, according to claim 8, and means coupled, respectively, to said first rotatable member and said second rotatable member for braking said first and second dispensing means, respectively.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

